Overview

Manufacturer: Joola
Model: Pro IV Perseus
Certifications: USAP & UPA-A approved. UPA-A approved paddles will have a grittier surface, while the dual-certified paddles will have a smoother surface to adhere to USAP’s guidelines.
Available Shapes:

Perseus (Elongated) 16MM

• Length: 16.5. inches
• Width: 7.5 inches
• Thickness: 16mm
• Static weight: 8.1oz avg
• Handle length: 5.5 inches

Perseus (Elongated) 14MM

• Length: 16.5 inches
• Width: 7.5 inches
• Thickness: 14mm
• Static weight: 7.9oz avg
• Handle length: 5.5 inches

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Trial & Warranty:

• The 6-month limited manufacturers warranty covers all defects in materials and workmanship. It does not cover damage due to improper usage, negligence, abuse, transportation damage, acts of nature, or accidents (including failure to follow the instructions supplied with the product.) 
• Full warranty details can be found at joola.com

Core Material & Design

• TFP: Tech Flex Power: additional foam added on the bottom corners (shoulders) of paddle 
• Propulsion core: thermoformed, but an additional white foam layer between polypropylene along the side and top of paddle

Price: $279.95 retail ($251.99 after code)

John Kew

⚖️ Rating: Recommend
💰Discount code: John Kew for 10% off
👉John Kew Stat Database

Pros:

• Top tier power paddle that offers plushness and controllability
• An upgrade in sweet spot, durability, and feel to the Mod TA-15, with less power
• Both 16mm and 14mm options are excellent choices

Cons:

• While technology is unique to Joola, there are similarly powerful paddles on the market that cost much less
• Signs point towards better durability, but only time will tell

Gameplay Performance

Pop and power

• Both 14MM and 16MM offers aggressive tools at the baseline and the net
• 16MM offers more power on drives, 14MM is poppier for aggression at the kitchen
• One of the most powerful paddles on the market, similar to the Perseus 3S, PaddleTek Bantam ESQ-C, Bantam ALW-C, and the CRBN TruFoams

Controllability

• Relatively easy to control for the power output
• 16MM felt easier to shape the ball due to increased dwell time and less pop
• Resetting the ball in the mid-court felt very intuitive with both paddles

Sweet spot and forgiveness:

• Pleasant feel off the face, especially for a power paddle thanks to the TFP technology
• Soft, springy with little to no vibration
• Sweet spot similar to the Mod TA-15 and larger than the Perseus 3S
• Close to Mod TA-15, but denser and less powerful 

Weight and maneuverability:

• Feels lighter than the swing weight suggests (117 below average)
• Hand speed isn’t a strength, but still better than most elongated paddles

Durability:

• Durability was one of Joola’s main focuses at the Joola event in Vegas, acknowledging crushed core paddles in the past and removing them from the market entirely
• Dissections show healthy cores and construction unlike Mod TA-15s
• Can’t be 100% certain that these paddles won’t break – only time will tell

Spin:

• Top tier spin at 2112 RPM

Final Verdict

• Recommended for: players who are willing to pay for a top-tier power paddle with a springy feel
• Not ideal for: price-conscious players who prefer more crisp and responsive paddles

Pickleball Medicine

⚖️ Rating: Highly Recommend‍
👉 PBMED Stat Database

Pros:

• High power, plushness, spin and forgiveness
• Large sweet spot, especially on the 16mm
• Very good vibration dampening

Cons:

• Steep price point
• Unremarkable stock weight
• Positive signs of durability, but not guaranteed

Gameplay Performance

Pop and power

• Top-tier power, where the 16mm provided more power and 14mm offered more pop
• Power and pop are similar to the 12.7mm Paddletek TKO-C, Franklin C45, TruFoam Genesis 1, and 11SIX24 Hurache Power

Controllability

• 16mm provided higher dwell time
• Felt like the paddle grabbed the ball
• Felt typical Gen 3 exponential power
• Since the 14mm is slightly lighter, it offers more room for customization

Sweet spot and forgiveness:

• Great sweet spot with plush feel
• Not hollow, more thud, and full feeling
• Sweet spot on the 16mm was larger than the 14mm 
• Very little to no vibration due to foam construction and added EVA foam around the neck

Durability:

• White foam along perimeter is not connected to the polypropylene core, which is a positive sign since the separation of these materials causes significant break-in
• Found no compressed cores in dissection, shows positive signs of healthy core construction
• Too soon to know how durable these will be in the wild

Weight and maneuverability:

• 16mm is not the lightest power paddle in the market
• THe 14mm provides more maneuverability and room for customization

Spin:

• Top tier spin like most modern day paddles

Final Verdict

• Recommended for: players looking for a dual-certified paddle with great vibration dampening, top tier power, and plush feel
• Not ideal for: price-sensitive players. 14mm may be too poppy for lower level players.

Pickleball Studio

⚖️ Rating: Recommend
👉 Pickleball Studio Stat Database

Pros:

• Aggressive power paddles that are at the top of the list for legal power
• A slight upgrade to the high-performing Joola 3s
• Stable and felt plush in the hand

Cons:

• While early signs of construction are positive, durability still needs to be proven
• May be too hard to control for lower level players

Gameplay Performance

Pop and power

• The 16MM felt stronger on drives while the 14MM was poppier
• While not able to match a Mod TA-15, it still packs a good punch and more control

Controllability

• 16MM offers stability and power, while the 14MM will have to be more precise or add more weight
• You can feel the ball sink into the paddle more, certainly more in comparison to the 11SIX24 Powers
• 11SIX24 Powers are a little less powerful than the Pro IVs but provide a larger sweet spot

Sweet spot and forgiveness:

• 14MM felt stiffer, poppier, less dwell
• 16MM felt more plush, better plow-through, more dwell
• In a tournament setting, the 14mm was too hard to control and spent too much time focusing on its power
• TFP helps increase stability
• More-than-acceptable sweet spot for power paddle

Durability:

• Throughout the entirety of Joola event, the focus was on increased durability and quality control
• Joola’s going to have to earn the public trust back over time
• Dissection showed very healthy signs, lending some credibility 

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Weight and maneuverability:

• 14MM felt fast in the hand while the 16MM felt average 

Final Verdict

• Recommended for: players who want a minor upgrade to the Joola 3s, want top-of-the-line legal power, part of the Mod refresh program
• Not ideal for: players who may be worried about durability or if cost is a concern

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